Event Info

Click here for a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Hopscotch Music Festival.

Now in its third year, The Independent Weekly's Hopscotch Music Festival brings 175 bands to 15 venues in downtown Raleigh. Intended to highlight the Triangle's music scene by pairing exciting local talent with notable national and international artists, Hopscotch offers choices in just about every genre imaginable—rock, hip-hop, alt-country, metal, dance, punk, classical, noise, drone, folk, and more. It is a festival that thrives on the variety and quality of its lineup, and this year, with roughly 35% of the musicians hailing from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and other nearby locales, it's a testament to both this region's musical diversity and its national relevance. 

Featuring 175 bands at night, day parties, the Edward McKay Used Books & More Cultural Series, charity activities, a poster exhibition, and more, Hopscotch takes place September 6-8, 2012. We invite you to experience it with us.  

A sampling of local, regional, and national press from 2010 and 2011:

"Hopscotch: perfection, indeed"—The News & Observer, Raleigh

"The festival is like a younger cousin to SXSW or CMJ...However, where the enormity of cities like Austin or New York make it all but impossible to jump between bars without spending your entire festival en route, Hopscotch is small enough that skipping between shows actually makes sense. Plus, roaming the streets between can't-miss acts leaves lots of time to run into new friends, get sidetracked into unexpected shows or end up on a random adventure. And there was plenty of that."—Mountain Xpress, Asheville

"In Raleigh Thursday through Saturday, it was all about an extraordinarily cool roster of bands. With streets cordoned off throughout the downtown area, thousands of people...wandered among ten participating music venues, creating a Mardi Gras-like atmosphere."—Rolling Stone

Hopscotch Music Festival is proudly owned by The Independent Weekly. Its founder and director is Greg Lowenhagen. Its co-director is Grayson Currin.